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<\/p>\nThe Ministry of Health, University of Ghana and the Ministry of Education, have resolved to amicably settle their differences to ensure a quick operationalization of the 217 million-dollar University of Ghana Medical Center following an intervention by the Presidency in the impasse.<\/p>\n
The parties, in a meeting convened at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday, reaffirmed their commitment\u00a0to the full implementation of the project which was commissioned by former President John Mahama in January 2017.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”KqyfWdY8vqNjhvqss7hSY2TibAVDA2Ir”]The world-class medical centre had been abandoned following a tussle between the Ministry of Health and the University of Ghana over the control of the facility.<\/p>\n
This is despite the full installation of all the necessary medical equipment for operations at the facility to commence.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0617-bed facility has ultra-modern medical gadgets for treating complicated medical conditions, and a helipad to airlift patients with emergency cases as well as a medical hotel.<\/p>\n
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The government has said it remains committed to the vision of the project, for which it secured a loan of $217 million.<\/p>\n
It assured the university community and the public of the successful completion and operation of the facility, in line with the vision of the project.<\/p>\n
In a joint communique issued after the meeting, the three bodies reiterated the need to address issues concerning the ownership and management of the centre.<\/p>\n
Background<\/strong><\/p>\n The government of Ghana in 2012 under the former President John Evans Atta-Mills entered into an agreement with\u00a0Messrs Engineering and Development Consultant (EDC) of Israel to build the first phase of the Center.<\/p>\n According to former deputy Minister of Health, Rojo Mettle Nunoo, the original plan of the government was to allow the University of Ghana to manage the facility but the facility after its face phase was\u00a0inaugurated by former President John Mahama on January 6, 2017 is still not in use because the Ministry of Health wants to take over its management.<\/p>\n Last week, cabinet gave a directive for the Ministry’s take over the facility, leading to some national security operatives storming the premises.<\/p>\n Although the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Robert Cudjoe had denied that the national security operatives were there to take over the facility, he argued that the Ministry\u00a0need to take over management of the facility because it had oversight responsibility for all health facilities in the country.<\/p>\n